Stories from Wednesday, February 3, 2010

April 3, 1926 - Jan. 28, 2010 IMPERIAL -- Gladys Elaine Hoff, 83, died Thursday (Jan. 28, 2010) at the St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. She was born April 3, 1926, in Imperial to Ralph D. and Minta E. (Speer) Grosbach. She grew up on a farm and attended schools near Enders, graduating in 1943 from Chase County High School in Imperial. After graduation she attended the University of Nebraska and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947...

The family of Betty Felker is requesting a card shower in honor of her 77th birthday, today, Feb. 3. Her family includes two sons, Robert Felker Jr. and wife, Brenda of Rochester, N.Y., and Scott and wife, Amanda Felker of McCook. She has two grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach her at PO Box 113, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Lavern and Elinor (Engel) Denker is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 63rd wedding anniversary, Feb. 2. Their children include Pat and husband, Don Polly of Lincoln; Terry Denker of Wauneta; Lynn Denker of Wauneta; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at PO Box 512, Wauneta, NE 69045...

Kansas may not be able to push quite as hard in its case against Nebraska over Republican River water, but don't expect the issue to go away any time soon. It would be funny if there weren't so many farms, jobs, businesses and taxpayer dollars on the line...

Vaccine facts won't change minds The final retraction of a study that seemed to show a connection between autism and a common childhood vaccination should be the end of the issue, but it won't. Neither did the elimination of a mercury compound from the vaccines nine years ago, which, by the way resulted in no decline in autism, reduce the controversy...

I found myself indulging in an activity late last year that I usually avoid. Perhaps indulging isn't quite the right word. Perhaps I should say -- exposing myself. Not to worry, this column isn't for mature audiences only. I frequently peruse online blogs, finding the commentaries to be informative and, at times, explosive. Reader comments always seem to add fuel to the fire and different perceptions emerge from unlikely sources...

You may not want to publish this letter in your Republican paper in this Republican community. I am one of those old radicals that have too much idle time to read and watch the news. Our free enterprise system has been so good to most of us in our age group. Democracy is the best. After you read this, you may call me a "socialist."...

The pain was finally gone as he rode the big bay horse up the narrow, winding trail. For some reason, this muscular man in black couldn't remember much from the previous week. Probably a bad rap on the head from getting bucked off some wild mustang, he thought...

I was born at Best, Neb., in 1929. I survived the Dust Bowl. Proudly, I enjoyed the songs "My Nebraska" and the lady's World War II song to the tune of "My Darling Nellie Gray" about our children off to fight for country Now I am very embarrassed that we have a Senator Ben Nelson bowing to corrupt politics...

CURTIS -- Students frustrated with campus life at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis turned Tuesday afternoon to the newest man on campus -- Associate Dean Rick Mestas, who has only been on campus since the end of the first semester...

Because 100 percent of the cost of J Street construction last year was paid by stimulus funds, more money is available for street improvements slated for this year. The work done on J Street, a $1 million project from West 10th to Norris Avenue, included resurfacing the street and installing left-hand turning lanes on West Fifth. ...

In the future, citizens may be able to attend a McCook City Council meeting without leaving the comfort of home. Upon Councilman Aaron Kircher's request, live streaming video and audio compatibility was amended into requirements for the redesign of the city's Web site. The council approved Monday night to request proposals to update the site and set the date to receive those proposals for Feb. 12 at 4 p.m...

The McCook City Council approved using $2,291 budgeted for trash containers, to make up the difference on a bid approved for a trash collection truck. Both bids the city received for a new solid waste collection truck were over the $160,000 budgeted...

Four members of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team will make an appearance in McCook Friday night as part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Husker Tour 2010. Former Chase County High School standout Matt May has another conflict, but May might show up for the event. Other Husker players expected to attend Friday night include standout running back Rex Burkhead, offensive lineman Marcel Jones, and defensive safety Eric Hagg...

LINCOLN -- The Nebraska Schools Activities Association (NSAA) announced schedules for the state's high school football teams. Schedules for the 2010 and 2011 seasons were made public Wednesday afternoon by the NSAA. McCook High School traded two teams on the 2010-11 schedules. ...

Feb. 15, 1912 - Feb. 2, 2010 Christine Karolene Relph, 97, died Tuesday (Feb. 2, 2010) at McCook Community Hospital. She was born Feb. 15, 1912, to Walter and Anna (Volroth) Pollmann in Culbertson. She attended Culbertson Public School. She married Elmer Relph on Nov. 26, 1936, at McCook. They moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., and lived there until her husband's retirement from Union Pacific Railroad and then moved back to McCook...